Skylights installed to brighten railway platform

Skylights have been added to a railway platform to brighten the station and "improve customer experience".

A joint project, which was funded by Avanti West Coast, Network Rail and Railway Heritage Trust, installed 27 skylights on platform one at Coventry railway station.

The changes, which cost £600,000, are part of ongoing improvement work after the station underwent an £82m transformation in 2022.

Dean Duthie from Avanti West Coast said: "The work has made a remarkable difference where customers will see a more vibrant look and feel from the natural light streaming through the new skylights."

The previous skylights, which dated back to the 1960s, were at the end of their lifespan and extremely dirty as they could not be maintained, said a train company spokesperson.

New signage was also added throughout the station, and LED lighting was installed alongside the skylights in order to reduce the station's energy consumption, they added.

Councillor Naeem Akhtar from the city council said the improvements helped to "enhance the station's architectural heritage" and continued to meet "modern-day needs".

"The new skylights and signage absolutely strike that balance, helping to improve the customer experience while preserving the unique character of the station," added Akhtar.

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